Chapter 66 - Episode 65: Demands and Conciliation ①
The bandit group was subjugated in the Arqvist Knight-Bachelor's territory.
That news first spread to the neighboring Viscount Koenitz's territory, and then to the surrounding noble territories.
The nobles and the common people who heard the news were surprised that a small territory with a population of only about 200 people had defeated a large-scale bandit group, but they were relieved, thinking, "Now we no longer need to tremble in fear of the threat of bandits."
Amidst this, there was one person who felt impatience rather than relief: Viscount Arnold Koenitz.
"Lord Arnold. Knight-Bachelor Arqvist has arrived. He is waiting for you in the reception room."
"Yes, I will head there immediately."
Arnold responded to the servant's report in a voice he strove to keep calm. However, his face was pale. That was only natural.
Arnold had spread a certain rumor to divert the bandit group toward the Arqvist territory. Naturally, Knight-Bachelor Arqvist would have noticed this, and he likely had a hunch about the source of the rumor.
In the original plan, the army of the Viscount Koenitz territory was supposed to deliver the finishing blow to the bandit group in the form of aiding the Arqvist territory, which would have been weakened by the bandit attack. He intended to create the fact that he had "saved the Arqvist territory."
And yet, Knight-Bachelor Arqvist had defeated the bandit group using only his own territory.
Knight-Bachelor Arqvist likely resented Arnold. Furthermore, Knight-Bachelor Arqvist was a sharp man.
Where in this world would there be a person who wanted to confront a sharp man who resented them head-on?
Having been requested for a meeting by Knight-Bachelor Arqvist, the day had finally come, and Arnold headed toward the reception room of the manor while harboring great anxiety over what he would be told.
...
"It has been a long time, Viscount Koenitz-kakka."
"...Yes, I am glad to see you are doing well, Lord Arqvist."
"Yes, thanks to you, I am as healthy as can be."
As he said this, Noein broke his facade of a pleasant young man's smile and let a fearless smirk slip through.
Seeing that wicked smile, Arnold shuddered. It was a far cry from the gentle smile he had been shown until now. Is this the face he originally smiles with?
Matilda and Bart, who stood behind Noein, were also emitting a faintly cold killing intent. Because of that, even the escort soldiers standing behind Arnold were feeling tense.
"By the way, I heard the bandit group flowed in that direction. Apparently, you all subjugated them. I was surprised by such a brave tale."
I must not let him get a commitment from me. I have to somehow seize control of the pace of the conversation... thinking this, Arnold brought up a topic himself.
"Yes. Since it was a large bandit group, I also felt some impatience... but we managed to avoid any trouble thanks to a new weapon developed by an excellent craftsman in my territory."
"A-a new weapon?"
"Yes... let me show you."
When Noein turned around and gave a signal with his eyes, Bart nodded and placed a bag he was holding on the reception room table.
He placed it with a deliberate "clatter," and because it was labeled as a "new weapon," Arnold's escorts grew alert and placed their hands on the hilts of their swords. Arnold restrained them with his hand and looked at the weapon that had come out of the bag.
"This is... I see. A weapon that supplements the muscle strength and technique required to handle a bow."
"As expected of Koenitz-kakka, that is exactly right."
Arnold prided himself on not being unintelligent. Being shown a tool that looked like a bow fitted into a wooden base, he immediately understood what kind of advantages it possessed.
"The craftsman who developed this named it the Crossbow, after a character from a heroic tale. This is a weapon that allows anyone to become an archer without undergoing long training."
"Anyone can become an archer... if that is the case, even peasants who are not accustomed to fighting could be converted into sufficient combat power. So that is how you won against the bandit group."
"Exactly as you say. I have over 100 of these in my territory. Even an army of 200 people was no match."
In reality, he didn't even have 50 yet, but Noein played a bluff. Even if he exaggerated the numbers, there was no way Arnold would find out the truth.
While Arnold adjusted his expression to avoid showing agitation, he shuddered inwardly.
The fact that there were 100 of these meant that the Arqvist territory possessed an archer unit on the scale of 100 people.
Furthermore, Noein said, "Even an army of 200 people was no match." To Arnold, this sounded like a roundabout way of saying, "Even the army of the Viscount Koenitz territory is no match."
"Besides, I also have my golem."
"Ah, that thing you often bring along."
"Yes. It was also useful in the battle against the bandits. I believe about one-third of the bandits killed were my personal achievements."
Arnold had also witnessed Noein's extraordinary skill in golem operation. If a golem, which was like a mass of weight, rampaged about like a human, it was understandable that it would exhibit unparalleled strength in close-quarters combat.
Thus, Noein's words, as he nonchalantly spoke of the strength of his own territory and himself, all sounded like threats to Arnold.
Even if he was gentle on the surface, Arnold felt as if he were being told, "Do not underestimate the Arqvist territory." And the result of "subjugating the large bandit group" proved that this attitude was not Noein's arrogance.
"Koenitz-kakka? Your complexion seems a bit poor; perhaps you are not feeling well?"
"...No, I am fine."
To Noein, who wore a contrivedly worried face, Arnold responded while wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Seizing the pace of the conversation was out of the question. He was being completely made a fool of.
"...By the way, Koenitz-kakka. At the same time as the rumors of the bandit group's approach, for some reason, rumors also reached my ears that my territory is weak and wealthy. Do you happen to know anything about this?"
As Noein put down the Crossbow and turned back toward Arnold, his voice became suddenly cold.
"I see. I heard those rumors as well. I wonder who started them... I have no inkling."
Arnold suppressed his agitation and said this while feigning composure with all his heart and soul.
If he let himself be caught in a commitment here, he would lose. Conversely, if he could get through this part, things could be handled. Situationally, even if it were obvious that Arnold had spread the rumors, there was no evidence to finalize it.
"So you don't know either, kakka... really, it is quite troubling for me. Since it is as if these rumors lured the bandits in."
"It was a disaster, Lord Arqvist."
Whether Noein had no intention of pursuing the matter further, he stopped putting thorns in his voice and spoke nonchalantly. Arnold also felt relieved inwardly at that tone.
"The world loves rumors, after all... I am worried that because we defeated the bandit group, bad rumors might arise regarding the noble territories that allowed their rampage or movement."
Being told this, Arnold realized Noein's intention.
Arnold had diverted the bandit group to the Arqvist territory even to the point of spreading despicable rumors. Those rumors had spread to neighboring territories, centered around the Viscount Koenitz territory.
For now, it was only that. However, if Noein began to broadcast this fact throughout the kingdom...
It would not be strange for the world to say, "Knight-Bachelor Arqvist, who defeated the bandits, is brave. In contrast, what a coward Viscount Koenitz is."
In Arnold's calculations, the Viscount Koenitz territory army was supposed to deliver the finishing blow to the bandit group. But now that Noein had defeated the bandit group by his own power, it had simply created the seed of a scandal that "Viscount Koenitz is a coward."
"I wonder if I could be of help so that bad rumors do not spread..."
Noein smiled as if troubled. That face was also contrived.
By now, Noein also had reasonable connections with merchants. There would be plenty of means to spread the scandal that "Viscount Koenitz was terrified of the bandits" within the kingdom.
Arnold could understand that Noein was saying, "If you don't want the scandal to spread, show your apology."
It wasn't supposed to be like this. Originally, he was supposed to be able to put Knight-Bachelor Arqvist in his debt. Even thinking that now was too late.
"...Lord Arqvist, it must be after being attacked by bandits. Is there anything you are troubled by? If I can be of help, I shall. In exchange, I would like you to help me so that bad rumors do not spread."
I will show the apology you desire, so please stay silent. Please forgive me for this incident. When Arnold said so roundaboutly, Noein's expression brightened as if he had been waiting for this, and he spoke.
"Is that acceptable? Thank you. In that case... I would like you to introduce me to the noble factions in the northwestern part of this kingdom and let me join that circle. I would like to ask you, kakka, to act as the intermediary."